The Side Effects of Social Media

Reconnecting

with Yourself

Article and Photos by Grace Doering

Graphic Design by Sadie McQuaide

It’s safe to say that we’ve all seen those articles on how social media is associated with increased depression, anxiety, poor sleep, body image issues, and cyberbullying. During this time of social distancing, it can be hard to not spend a good portion of your day on social media.  

Social media affects your mental health in the sense that it stops your mind from filtering day-to-day thoughts and feelings, and tends to blur creativity and individuality. 

Missing the Real You

Social media can be an incredible thing. Realistically, we have unlimited information, entertainment, and communication at our fingertips, which is amazing! However, becoming too dependent on technology and the platforms it provides can make us feel as if we’ve lost ourselves. Though social media can be a place to get inspiration, it can also clutter and clog your own original creativity. Influencers who make a living from social platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter are living their everyday lives on the internet and even they begin to feel this mental clutter at one point or another, hence why many people decide to take a break from social media and “find themselves.” 

Taking a step back  

The internet can be an easy place to spend all day scrolling and seeing what everyone else is doing with their lives, but it is also a place of negative news and can essentially lead to hours wasted. It is the moment we put down our screens and come back into our day to day lives that we are flooded by stress because we wasted so much time procrastinating real work.  

Social distance from social media   

An effortless way to take a step back is by using the Screen Time setting or app. Screen Time lets you see exactly how much time you spend on your phone and on specific apps. If you are surprised by how many hours you spend on your phone, that is totally normal—it happens to all of us!  Try setting app limits, or schedule periods of downtime with no technology throughout your day. Instead of staying up late on your phone, write or read some pages in a book before bed. Instead of waking up in the morning and immediately checking social media, drink a glass of water, read something positive to start your day off, make a delicious breakfast, or go on a run before checking on your socials. 

Social media is a powerful tool that can connect, influence, and inspire anyone from anywhere around the world. We must realize the power we have to influence people and know how to use social media in a healthy way. Social distancing can give everyone a sense of loneliness and loss of control, and the internet can be a wonderful way to connect with others and entertain ourselves during these times, but it is equally important to take care of ourselves offline. Learn a new skill, get mentally and physically healthy, and connect with people you love. Focus on becoming refreshed and prepared for life after social distancing to remain content during this time.